Author: Buffalo Winter

Five Goals, two-goal lead, still lost

Lightning 6 – Sabres 5 I could point out the imbalanced officiating of a melee of players roughing it up that singled out Buffalo’s Captain while ignoring simultaneous infractions that were occurring, but there would be nothing to gain from that.

Of course you cannot blame a head coach for a porous goaltender, but this is not the first time this season where the Sabres scored five times had a lead and lost the game, something has to give.

The year was 2011, Buffalo’s last playoff appearance, seven head coaches later were back to Lindy who Buffalo dismissed after a dismal start to the 2012-13 shortened NHL season, and now after New Jersey fired him before the end of last season curiously the Sabres brain trust thought he could be this team’s answer.

As my Grandmother would lament during stressful times, “this too will pass”, is going to have to be this season’s rallying cry as the Sabres skate headlong into their 14th season without acquiring a playoff seeding.

46 Second Overtime Quick & Painful

Senators 4 – Blackhawks 3 (OT) Chicago scores twice on 5 SOG during the first period to take the lead twice before leaving the period tied at two apiece, then Ottawa scored in the second period for the 3-2 lead after two periods of play.

Blackhawks fourth liners score in the first two minutes of the third period to tie the game at three and Chicago forces overtime where “crash the net”, “not his fault”, game winning goal by the Senators just seconds into the overtime frame concludes the contest.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S RESULTS

Capitals 3 – Rangers 2 (OT)

Knights 5 – Maple Leafs 2

Canucks 3 – Ducks 2

Blues 3 – Kings 2 (SO)

32nd place beats 29th place in NHL basement series

Sabres 2 – Sharks 6 (en) With two minutes left in the game and losing by three goals, Lindy thought it the best time to pull our ineffective goaltender and expand the team’s negative goal differential.

Losing to the worst team in the NHL at home by four goals is unacceptable, you can make the supposition that our team is playing lackluster hockey, and why you might ponder?

Coaching is more important in hockey than any other sport, bench bosses, former players, motivators, intimidators, father figures, and friends stand behind the players and are partly responsible for the players successes or failures.

You can compare Washington and New Jersey as examples where a new Head Coach can make a difference in a team’s performance, then you can point to the Sabres to highlight the negative impact a former head coach can induce.

The Sabres in two seasons under Head Coach Granato were above 500% and although they just missed the playoffs, each year they were close, now the only thing Buffalo is close to is a number one draft pick.

The New Jersey Devils dumped Lindy before last season’s end, Buffalo should take note and cut him loose before any further damage is inflicted and allow Head Coach Appert to take the reins.

Buffalo’s next two games are in Florida versus the Sunshine State’s Stanley Cup champions, past and present, hopefully the Sabres will play up to their level of competition.

Last week’s answer: Jerry “King Kong” Korab

The Buffalo Sabres made one of their best trades ever on this date, March 4th, 1972, when the Sabres and Penguins exchanged players, Buffalo received the final piece to what was to become the “French Connection”.

What player did Buffalo send to Pittsburgh for Rene Robert?

A) Gerry Meehan

B) Eddie Shack

C) Tracy Pratt

D) Dave Dryden

Montreal sweeps Buffalo in four game season series

Canadiens 4 – Sabres 3 (OT) Last night was the closest Buffalo has come to beating Montreal this season, it has been a tough year for Sabres fans watching our team endure a 13-game winless streak and knowing that we have the talent and skilled players, imho a new Head Coach is warranted.

Tonight, Buffalo hosts one of the teams it beats on a consistent basis, the San Jose Sharks who are bringing rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini to visit here along the Lake, let us hope that his cellys are few and far in between.